Weekend wrap-up: Biggest Arizona-related stories from this past weekend

PHOENIX — The weekend is officially over.

This past weekend brought a lot of big news: Rep. Martha McSally announced her run for the U.S. Senate, President Donald Trump reportedly used some foul language to describe African nations and a fake missile alert was sent to all the residents of Hawaii.

Here are some of the biggest stories, both in Arizona and nationwide, from this past weekend.

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Arpaio vows to continue birther investigation if elected to Senate

U.S. Senate candidate and former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said that he would continue an investigation into former President Barack Obama’s birth certificate if he is elected into office.

“I started this because a fake document, a government document — I didn’t care where the president came from, I didn’t care at all,” Arpaio said in an interview with CNN’s Chris Cuomo.

“And we had this evidence, nobody will talk about it, nobody will look at it, but anytime you want to come down, we will be glad to show it again. And by the way, you’re going to hear more about this fake, phony birth certificate.”

Ducey says NAFTA rework could improve Arizona-Mexico trade

Gov. Doug Ducey said trade between Arizona and Mexico is a key part of his state’s economy and that could be improved further by reworking the North American Free Trade Agreement.

“We certainly are advocating for an improvement or a modern NAFTA,” he told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News.

“It was written in a rotary-phone economy. The world has changed dramatically.”

Walmart shutting down Sam’s Club locations in Arizona, nationwide

A spokesman said some Arizona Sam’s Club locations would be closing, the same day parent company Walmart announced pay hikes and bonuses.

A spokesman for Walmart — which owns the warehouse membership club — said the four stores that will be closing for good on Jan. 26.

Arizona DPS speed crackdown nets more than 170 tickets, 2 arrests

A speed crackdown on Phoenix-area freeways resulted in more than 220 drivers being pulled over and more than 170 citations, an Arizona Department of Public Safety official said.

“The results were what we expected (in) that the more visibility of the DPS officers, the more likely people are going to be stopped for speeding and the more likely speeding citations will be issued,” Bart Graves said.

In total, 221 drivers were stopped for speeding, with 174 of them receiving a citation. Forty-seven of the drivers were given a warning and two were arrested.

Trump asks why US would admit more people from ‘s***hole countries’

President Donald Trump used profane language when asking why the United States would want more people to immigrate from “s***hole countries.”

Trump made the remark after Democratic Sen. Richard Durbin told Trump that under a proposed immigration bill, a lottery for visas would be ended. Durbin said that in exchange, people from African countries that have benefited from that lottery would be given other access to visas.

The sources said Trump questioned why the U.S. would want to admit more people from “s***hole countries.” They said Trump said the U.S. should allow more immigrants from places like Norway, whose prime minster he met with earlier.

However, Trump later denied the claims.

Arizona among worst states in nation for raising a family, study finds

If you’re looking to start a family soon, Arizona may not be the best place for you.

According to a recent study from WalletHub, Arizona has ranked 40th in the nation for the best states to raise a family. The study also found that Arizona ranked 47th in the nation for childcare and 49th in affordability.

Rep. Martha McSally announces run for Flake’s Senate seat

U.S. Rep. Martha McSally has officially become a senate candidate after weeks of staying mum on the subject.

McSally, of Tucson, launched her run to try to replace outgoing Sen. Jeff Flake, calling on the Republican Party to “grow a pair of ovaries” in her first campaign video.

The 51-year-old will face former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and former state Sen. Kelli Ward in the primary.

Hawaii officials mistakenly warn of inbound missile

Hawaii emergency management officials said a push alert that warned of an incoming ballistic missile to Hawaii on Saturday was a mistake.

The emergency alert sent to cellphones said in all caps, “Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill.”

The false alarm was issued on several different platforms as many citizens reported receiving not only text messages of the warning but also receiving warnings on Hawaiian television.

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